"I had various offers, Portuguese clubs, and English, but I preferred to play in Spain," he said. "Atletico's way of presenting their offer seemed serious to me. The financial offer was the same as the others. I liked how the club's owner Miguel Angel Gil Marin went about it."

Many Atletico signings -- including Griezmann -- have struggled in the beginning to get used to the physical and tactical demands of playing for coach Diego Simeone, something which Jota said he was well aware of.

"I know," he said. "Now I have a test of fire and I hope to adapt. It will be more difficult on a physical level, that is clear. I will have to close up spaces in defence and then come out on the break."

Jota was present at Atletico's Cerro del Espino training ground on Thursday as the team began their preseason programme overseen by fitness coach Oscar 'El Profe' Ortega. Also in attendance was another new face in Colombian striker Rafael Santos Borre, and senior players including recently re-signed Fernando Torres and Brazil left-back Filipe Luis.